Loose-leaf binder



' Feb. 16, 1943. F. s. SCI -IADE LOO SE LEAF BINDER Filed April 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F b-' 1943- F. s.- scHA E, 2,311 09 LOOSE LEAF BINDER F 'iled Apgil 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE to National Blank Book Company, Holyoke,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 4, 1942, Serial No. 437,611

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved loose-leaf binder. It is of the angle back type adapted to break from flat into inverted V-shaped form. This break is accomplished after the back portions are pulled apart flatwise'. The purpose is to present the binding posts in good position for changing sheets. The binder of this type is useful in holding a large number of sheets. The construction of the binder is particularly important because of the size of the filler pack and the inherent difliculty in using a binder filled with a very large pack. It is common to use such a binder with a pack thickness of around three or four inches.

Prior art constructions of the type referred to are indicated in the Schade Patents 1,954,494 of 1934; 1,990,136 of 1935; 2,193,347 of 1940; and 2,209,284 of 1940.

A common feature of said prior patents is the substantial amount of metal used in the mechanism. A feature of my improved construction isthe relatively small amount of metal used to give as good or better results. As an example, com paring empty binders of the same SiZe intended for the same use, my new construction is just about one pound less in weight. This lighter weight gives an advantage to the individual user. It also gives an advantage to the manufacturer.

One general object of my invention is to save metal without sacrificing efiiciency in the binder construction. In fact the efiiciency in my new binder is improved. The results are accomplishednot only by substituting lighter material for metal parts, but also by changing the form and arrangements of the parts under a comprehensive plan. I will point out the way this is done in the detailed disclosure.

The new construction involves considerable detail. The reason for its form and arrangement can be seen best from a full disclosure. This is given in the accompanying drawings and explanation.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a-top view of the binder with a small portion of one part cut away. The covers are seen opened out, but the back panel mechanism is seen in closed condition;

Fig. 2 is an end view'of the'Fig. 1 assembly;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. The coverportions are partly cutaway and the scale enlarged; I g

Fig. 41s a similar section on line 4--4 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 5'1's'a' detail plan view ofa'lowe'r portion of parts seen in Fig; lbut' in different position, name'- 1 the posit-ion of parts when the binder is open to give book reading position; I N

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with the back panel parts" ready to move into their inverted V-s'haped form and afterward give the binder the sheet changing position; I

Fig; 7 is an end view of parts in Fig; 6: but moved to sheet changing position for the binder;

Fig. 8 is a detail view partly in section to supplement Fig. '7; I

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views to help the operating description; and v Fig. 11 is a detail view to indicate a; slight modi fication of post construction.

I will first describe briefiy the operation of the binder in its most general as ects, The positions of Figs. 1 to 4 correspond to the first open positicn when the binder is laid out on a table. With a full pack, not shown; the 'sheets' are' too tightly held in the back for turning to easy reading posi-' tion. By pulling covers I and 2 apart, the two back panel parts 3 and 4 move into" the position of Fig. 5. A stop pin 5 abutting a shoulder on part ii limits this movement. When the back panel is thus widened, the sheets are loosened up;

at the back. They can he read much easi r. or course the book can be read in either o" sition of Fig. 1 or Fig. 5. The'latter s'much easier. The reason for the former is to tightly pack the book contents at the back to 's'ave's'toragespace. It is customar tohold'loose-lea'f, closely'pr'm ted pages in these binders for up td-date reference pur poses. The binder is normally full to capacity and kept up-to-date by substituting printed pages. The maximum capacity of reference material a minimum space for storage is the condition of desired use.

e es s e are. o b su t ui fi t e strip '1, see Fig. 5, carrying stop pin 5, is moved to carry saidpin away fromthe stop on part 6. Panel parts 3 and ,4' are then movedwider apart than before by pulling covers I and 2 apart. The new position is indicated in Fig. 6. In this posi-' tion, by a stop and a hinge construction to be described, the panel parts can break intoangularv form. They make'the inverted V-shape' of Fig. 7 when the binding. posts 8 and 9 are swung open and apart for the sheet changing purpose. This position of parts'in Fig. '7 is most convenient for The rearrangement of parts for the closely packed storage purpose is' the reverse of the movements back to the position of Fig; 1'. From this position the covers areclos'ed. I have now outlined the general operation of the binder such purpose.

between storage, convenient reference, sheet changing, and back to storage conditions.

It Will be seen by comparing the above operations with those of the prior art that, generally considered, the book operations are quite similar. I mean to recognize that the prior art structures have very desirable operations for book binder use. This is particularly so in the circumstances I referred to concerning the use of large capacity reference books of loose-leaf kind. Accordin to my invention of new structure I retain the desirable operations of the prior art, and while continuing provision for such operations I arrange the new structure for effectively attaining additional advantages. As this is done by close attention to the arrangement of detail elements in combination, such additional advantages will be referred to further after the structural detail is described.

I will now describe the example of specific construction in my improved binder. Back panel part 3, Fig. 3, is made of stiff cardboard. It is covered by cloth or a suitable layer of decorated covering and book finishing material It. Such layer III is turned over the free outer edges of part 3. On the left edge, layer II] is extended vertically and partially covers up to gap I2, an additional part II. The latter is a wooden bar. It lies along the margin of panel 3.

Wooden bar II, as shown, has a specially shaped cross-section. A similar wooden bar I3 lies along the right margin of panel 4. Bar I3 has a similar cross-section to that of bar I4 except that its base has a higher level.

The cross-sectional shape of bars II and I3 has these advantages: Its lower or broad base portion gives firm and fiat support to a substantial area along the margins of panels 3 and 4. Its upper central vertical flange portion I4 or I5 of substantial width is integral with the lower portion. The flange provides abutting support for the binding margin I1 or I8 of covers I or 2. Such margin is beveled along the lower edge to fit a complementary bevel extending inwardly from the outer side of the bar. Thus, a good seat is provided for binding cover margin I! or it on its adjacent bar I3 or II. The cover margins are riveted respectively to flanges I 4 and I5. The arrangement also provides a convenient way to stop off and bind the edges of flexible layers II) and I9. They are laid in the bevel angle in I I and I3 and stopped off at gaps I2. The upper edges of these small gaps are the stop-off lines for flexible cloth strips 20 extending down from hinges 2I. A second decorative flexible cloth covering 20' is attached to the outer side of covers I and 2 and the binding margins I1 and I8. This also serves to reenforce the cloth strip 20 at the hinge 2|. The said riveted cover margins bind the strips I9, I9, and 20 very effectively on bars II and I3. The arrangement gives a good, neat appearance with easy assembly and low cost. The raw edges are covered and well anchored as the drawing shows. The outer surfaces of the binding margins I1 and I8 are substantially flush with the outer surfaces of bars II and I3. Thus, the side of the book has a simple, neat appearance. The thickness of the flanges I4 and I5 is substantial, as shown. That is, they are quite a bit thicker than if metal flanges were used. The ones indicated are of wood, for example, and need to be thicker to give strength.

Compared to metal flanges, the relatively thick wood flanges I4 and I5 do not, as a matter of fact, materially interfere with the desired thickness of the filler pack or sheet capacity of the binder. It might seem otherwise, considering that these flanges carry binder posts 8 and 9 and the sheet capacity must stop where the posts stop. The flanges I4 and I5, it will be noted, have their opposed inner faces positioned well in from the inner vertical faces of bars II and I3. The base portions of the bar are undercut somewhat at chosen places, as will be explained. This is to accommodate telescoping movements of the mechanism for manipulating the back panel portions of the book. The result is that the sheet capacity of the binder is maintained just about equal to what it can be when thin sheet metal flanges were used. The latter have not been spaced apart in practice and the space between filled with sheets. Part of the available width between the flanges was necessary apparently to accommodate the binder operating mechanism. The latter has taken enough space to interfere with a sheet capacity otherwise available when thin metal flanges were used.

I have taken this condition into consideration in making my improved structure. I use what has heretofore been lost space. It is used to make flanges I4 and I5 of lighter, cheaper material, as wood, and thick enough and shaped appropriately to give all the strength needed where it is needed. Instead of making my binder thicker in overall dimensions for a capacity equal to prior art constructions, I make it approximately of the same overall size.

A feature of keeping the overall binder width down is seen in my hinge construction and positioning of parts. The binding margin II or I8 of a cover is above the base portion of II and I3. The latter is wide enough in cross-section to give strength. A part of this width is used by the said adjacent binding margin being mounted to abut the post holding flange. The total book thickness is kept down by the total thickness of I! and I8, see Fig. 3. They add nothing to the overall width.

In my construction the cover hinges 2| are located as shown close to the upper level of the flanges I4 and I5. When the covers are closed against full binder contents, there is very little wlaste space. The pack, bound tightly between flanges I4 and I5, tends to fan out a bit above the posts. The covers, held in vertical position, tend to hold the pack in and restrain the packfanning tendency. There is only one very small empty recess along one side of the pack against each cover. It is the little recess between a hinge 2| and the inner upper edge of the adjacent flange I4 or I5. The hinge 2I, being positioned close to its adjacent flange at its upper level, minimizes and makes such recess very small. It is hardly noticeable. Viewed endwise, a full and closed binder gives an improved appearance over prior art books, as I view it. And, even though strong, relatively bulky bars of wood are used in my construction, the appearance of increased book bulk is certainly avoided, while the overall bookbinder dimensions are kept approximately the same as when relatively thin sheet metal angle construction is used.

A part of the space-saving arrangement is indicated in Fig. 4. The bar I3 is shown undercut to make the recess or pocket 22. In the book position of Fig. 1 the rounded end portion 23 (see Fig. 5) of metal strip 24, is pocketed in the space 22. A similar construction is provided metal strip 25, see Fig. 1,, near the other end of "the back panel mechanism.

This mechanism will now be described. Panel 4, made of cardboard or non-metallic material such as wood, for example, extending from the bar |3 rests on panel 3 and below metal strips 24'and and is so held that, while it may be drawn smoothly and easily from one position to another, it is firmly supported at all times (Fig. 4). A fabric material 26 covering the panel 4 extends beyond it to encase a wire 21, thus forming a hinge at 28, as will be shown later. The fabric 26 continues under the panel 4, thus completely covering it top and bottom along its entire length. It is of sufficient stiffness to extend horizontally from the pane1 4 and support the wire 21, yet is suificiently flexible to bendv when in the position shown in Fig. 8. The wire 21 has a loop 29 underlying metal strip 24. In Figs. 1 to 4 loop 29 fits into the recess cut in the bar while in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 it encircles the struck-down portion 3| of the metal strip 24. This struck-down portion 3| is pinned to the lower panel 3 by the rivet 32. As the panels 3 and 4 are moved relative to each other the portion 3| passes along the slot 33 (Fig. 5) formed in the pane1 4 and its fabric covering 26 until the position of Fig. 6 is reached. At this point the book back may be broken to permit pages to be extracted or added, as illustrated in Fig. '7. In this position the loop 29 encircles that portion 3| of the metal strip 24 as has been mentioned before, and the fabric covering 26 extending beyond panel 4 bears on the end of panel 3, forming a simple yet effective hinge at 28 which may be used to bring the panels 3 and 4 to any desired angle with respect toeach other, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Only the lower half of the book has been illustrated and explained with respect to the foregoing mechanism, but it must be understood that a similar arrangement of parts is provided and associated with metal strip 25' shown in Fig. 1. At the upper and lower extremities of the wire 21 two additional loops 34 and 35 are disposed oppositely from the loop '29. These loops normally are inoperative, but they come into use if any attempt is made to bend the book inwardly when in the position of Fig. 6, since these loops 34 and 35 bear against panel 4 and the loop 29 in the position of Fig. 6 bears against panel 3, thus restraining the panels against bending inwardly.

Slidably attached to the metal strips 24 and 25 is the narrow, thin strip 1 briefly mentioned before. Small lugs 35, struck from the metal strip 24 and 25, are provided to hold the slidable strip 1 in line, holding it from lateral movement while permitting it to slide longitudinally, limited by the shoulders 31 and 38 bent in the strip 1 to furnish lower and upper stop positions, as seen in Fig. 1.

Carried by the strip 1, the stop pin 5 rests in the slot 39 of the plate 40 when in the position shown in Fig. 1, abuts the stop shoulder 4| in the position of Fig. 5, and rides clear of shoulder 4| to the position of Fig. 6 when the strip 1 is pushed manually to its upper position. There is a finger bend I, seen in Fig. 2, for convenience in manipulating strip 1.

The plate 40, fixed to panel 4 in any suitable manner, as by rivets, has two cam surfaces 42 and 43. Gem surface 42 stop pin 5 to its lower position when the book is being closed (Fig. 9). Cam surface 43 is used is utilized to return the to oifset the stop pin to clear the stop shoulder 4| on closing the book if the strip 1 carrying pin 5 should accidentally be pulled to its lower position while the book is open to its full extent. ,5 The operation is indicated in Fig. 10.

Fig 11 shows a modified form of binding post structure. The binding post 9, instead of being unsupported at its free end, fits into a socket 9' in a stub post. This structure not only serves to support the post 9, but also serves to some extent as a guide for the post and so helps to keep the two telescoping halves of the book in proper alignment.

The posts 8 and 9 are preferably made of wood or nonmetallic material. They are mounted in opposite sets held respectively by the flanges of wooden bars H and I3.

I have disclosed my invention in the form now best known to me for practicing it to advantage.

Considering the character of the detailed drawings I have not thought it desirable to expand the description. It is clear that the structure and its operation as compared to the prior art binders will accomplish what I stated in the 25 beginning.

What I claim is:

1. A post binder of large capacity and of comparatively light weight comprising in combination, a back panel construction of two flat parts 30 adapted to slide one on the other, each part provided with a bar of substantial thickness resting on its outer edge margin, each bar including an intermediately located vertical flange along its upper length for carrying binder posts, a longi- 35 tudinal shelf along the outer side of each bar provided by the distance between its flange connection and said outer side, a cover having a binding margin fastened against each flange and seated on its shelf, a cover hinge :between the cover and said binding margin, the line of said hinge being located close to the upper level of the adjacent flange, and back panel manipulating mechanism to control the relative positions of said flat parts in their movements, said bars having recesses along their lower sides adapted to accommodate parts of said mechanism when the binder is in closed condition, said manipulating'mechanism having a flexible hinge of material such as cloth extending beyond the outer edge of one panel and provided with a beaded edge and fingers carried by the other panel to engage the beaded edge for holding it for making the hinge over the outer edge of such other panel when desired all constructed and arranged for the purpose described.

2. In a construction of the kind described, two stiff slidable back panel parts, one having a flexible hinge strip with a reenforced bead extending longitudinally beyond and along its inner edge, the other one having two spaced light weight strips positioned to overlie the first one, each of said strips having means at one end to engage said reenforced bead whereby a hinge line is predetermined for said flexible strip to turn from when the panel parts are separated for relative hinging movements, a stop pin, a slidable member mounted. on said light weight strips to carry the pin, a cam member movable with the panel part having the hinge strip, said cam member having a part to abut said pin and cam surfaces to move said pin into line for engaging said abutment whenever the panel parts are separated for hinging movements and then returned therefrom to non-hinging position.

3. The structure of claim 2 in combination with means to prevent bending of the panel parts in more than one direction from the flat hinging position.

4. A post binder of large capacity and of comparatively light weight comprising an expansible back portion of stiff panel parts, stifi bars with flanges to hold opposite sets of posts, all such parts being of non-metallic material, wood for example, panel manipulating mechanism associated with said panel parts, such mechanism being adapted to constrain the panel parts for movements to several predetermined positions, namely a 'full panel overlapping book closed position, a partially overlapping position, and a hinging or panel angle position for a sheet changing operation, a finger-operated latch device to automatically avoid the last-named position until the latch is consciously operated to ermit it, parts of said mechanism being arranged to telescope in recesses of the non-metallic parts when the book is in full closed position, said panel manipulating mechanism including beaded cloth hinge strip extending beyond the outer edge of one panel and fingers to engage said bead to hold it for the cloth strip to bend over the outer edge of the other panel as a hinge line, all for the purpose described.

5. In a large capacity post binder of the kind described having a binder back construction made of two complementary panels one mounted on the other for expanding, contracting and hinging movements, relatively thick non-metallic bars one fastened along the outer margin of each panel, posts mounted on the upper margin of each bar, one of said panels having a flexible hinge strip extending a short distance beyond its inner margin, a stiif reenforced outer bead on said hinge strip, two spaced loops extending beyond said bead, slots extending across said panel one in line with each of said loops for the purpose of receiving movable fingers adapted to engage said loops, means overlying said other panel having fingers to engage said loops when the two panelsare separated far enough whereby said bead and loops are held for a predetermined hinge line, said bars being provided with recesses on their under side, such recesses of one bar being extensions of said slots to accommodate the construction of said fingers and the recesses of the other bar being in line with said loops to accommodate them when the complementary panels are contracted to close the binder back construction.

6. In a large capacity post binder of the kind described having a binder back construction made of two complementary panels one mounted to slide on the other into relative binder closed, reading, and broken back position for changing sheets, mechanism adjacent the panels to control their movements, such mechanism including a thin narrow latch strip always overlying one of the panels and slidably mounted lengthwise thereof between latching and unl-atching position, a stop member carried by said strip, a permanently positioned stop shoulder on the other panel to engage the stop member on the latch strip, and means on the last-mentioned panel to automatically shift the latch strip in position to have the stop member engage said stop shoulder whenever the panels are moved together from positions beyond the panel latched position, said panels carrying hinge parts for relatively angular movement when separated beyond the panel latched position.

7. The sub-combination in a binder of the kind described comprising two stiff relativelyslidable back panels, one having a flexible hinge band along its inner edge and extending slightly beyond such edge, a stiff rod reenforcing said hinge band in a beaded edge, means overlying the other panel below which the first panel and its hinge band are adapted to slide back and forth while such means hold the panels in parallel position, hinge means arranged to cooperate with said hinge band and provide for panel hinging movement when the panels slide to a predetermined hinging position, said rod being provided with offset portions to engage both panels and said overlying means so as to prevent the panels turning from their horizontal positions into an angular position except in one direction.

FRANK STANLEY SCHADE. 

